TCHS class of ’37 make 70th reunion their last

From left, Sue Spencer, Sarah Bell Newton and Marvin Harper, all members of the Tuscaloosa County High School class of 1937, laugh about a story from their past Saturday at a 70th class reunion at the Country Club of Tuscaloosa.

Staff photo | Dusty Compton

By Jamon Smith Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 8:13 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | For 70 years the ties that bound the 105 members of Tuscaloosa County High School’s graduating class of 1937 have remained strong.

Despite time and distance, the class has met nearly every two years since June 1979 for a class reunion.

That’s why for the nine of the 11 remaining members of the class who met at the Country Club of Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon, the reunion was bittersweet, for it marked the end of an era.

“Because this is our 70th anniversary, we decided to meet today for the last time," said Lenore Carter, 88, of Tuscaloosa.

“The class reunions are getting smaller and smaller," she said. “We’re old. Many of us have passed on. But, we’ve all remained friends throughout the years, and it sure is great to see everybody again."

As that last word left her lips, Carter hurried toward the club’s dining room entrance, where a woman wearing glasses and a purple shirt had just walked through the door.

“Oh! There’s Sue," Carter exclaimed.

Upon reaching her, Carter embraced classmate Sue Spencer tightly.

“Do you remember me, honey?" Carter asked her.

Spencer pushed her glasses higher up on her nose and squinted her eyes, giving Carter a good once-over.

“Well, I remember what I need to remember of you," said Spencer, 87, of Sarasota, Fla.

“We all look a little different these days than we used to," she said.

The 11 a.m.-2 p.m. class reunion included lunch and socializing.

Clifford Barger, who was voted president of the class in 1937, said there was no need for speeches or an official program.

“We just want everyone to say their piece," said Barger, 91, of Tuscaloosa.

Barger said he’s always had a lot of pride in being a member of the class. It’s been an experience he said he wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

“This is one of the most warm-hearted groups of people I ever did know," Barger said.

Barger said the class never actually hung out together back in their high school days.

He said “hanging out" wasn’t something that most teenagers were allowed to do back then.

“Most of us had to go straight home after school and pick cotton or plow the field," Barger said.

Though they weren’t allowed to spend their free time together, Barger said, what made his classmates close was that they were all of like character.

“We were all just plain, good ol’ country kids without a lot of finances," Barger said.

“That’s about what brought us together," he said. “But we’ve become a family since."

During Barger’s pre-lunch toast, he said it was great to have the “family reunion" one last time.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | For 70 years the ties that bound the 105 members of Tuscaloosa County High School’s graduating class of 1937 have remained strong.</p><p>Despite time and distance, the class has met nearly every two years since June 1979 for a class reunion.</p><p>That’s why for the nine of the 11 remaining members of the class who met at the Country Club of Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon, the reunion was bittersweet, for it marked the end of an era.</p><p>Because this is our 70th anniversary, we decided to meet today for the last time," said Lenore Carter, 88, of Tuscaloosa.</p><p>The class reunions are getting smaller and smaller," she said. We’re old. Many of us have passed on. But, we’ve all remained friends throughout the years, and it sure is great to see everybody again."</p><p>As that last word left her lips, Carter hurried toward the club’s dining room entrance, where a woman wearing glasses and a purple shirt had just walked through the door.</p><p>Oh! There’s Sue," Carter exclaimed.</p><p>Upon reaching her, Carter embraced classmate Sue Spencer tightly.</p><p>Do you remember me, honey?" Carter asked her.</p><p>Spencer pushed her glasses higher up on her nose and squinted her eyes, giving Carter a good once-over.</p><p>Well, I remember what I need to remember of you," said Spencer, 87, of Sarasota, Fla.</p><p>We all look a little different these days than we used to," she said.</p><p>The 11 a.m.-2 p.m. class reunion included lunch and socializing.</p><p>Clifford Barger, who was voted president of the class in 1937, said there was no need for speeches or an official program.</p><p>We just want everyone to say their piece," said Barger, 91, of Tuscaloosa.</p><p>Barger said he’s always had a lot of pride in being a member of the class. It’s been an experience he said he wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.</p><p>This is one of the most warm-hearted groups of people I ever did know," Barger said.</p><p>Barger said the class never actually hung out together back in their high school days.</p><p>He said hanging out" wasn’t something that most teenagers were allowed to do back then.</p><p>Most of us had to go straight home after school and pick cotton or plow the field," Barger said.</p><p>Though they weren’t allowed to spend their free time together, Barger said, what made his classmates close was that they were all of like character.</p><p>We were all just plain, good ol’ country kids without a lot of finances," Barger said.</p><p>That’s about what brought us together," he said. But we’ve become a family since."</p><p>During Barger’s pre-lunch toast, he said it was great to have the family reunion" one last time.</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>